Super Bowl weekend is officially here, this Sunday, February 11th at 6:30 p.m. the AFC champion Kansas City Chiefs are taking on the NFC champion San Francisco 49ers. This highly anticipated showdown will determine who will be the Super Bowl LVIII champions. Throughout the playoffs, both sides went through a gauntlet of teams looking to earn a chance to play in the final game. For the Chiefs, there was a lot of doubt during their regular season as the offense was not as explosive compared to past years. However, in typical Chiefs fashion, they always turn it up a notch when the playoffs come around.

The Chiefs finished their regular season with 11 wins and 6 losses. In previous years the playoffs ran through Kansas City, but this year there were questions surrounding getting the job done as the away team. After the Chiefs got the wild card playoff win against the Miami Dolphins in Kansas City, the Chiefs played the number 2-seeded Buffalo Bills on the road and proceeded to win 27 to 24. Then continuing on to beat the number 1-seeded Baltimore Ravens in Maryland 17 to 10. Led by Superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes, the team was able to keep the doubters quiet and advance to their 4th Superbowl in 6 years.

For the San Francisco 49ers, the road to the Super Bowl wasn’t any easier. they finished their regular season with 12 wins and 5 losses. Claiming the number 1, seed they were granted a first-round bye and home-field advantage. In their first game of the playoffs, their opponent was the young and explosive 7th-seeded Green Bay Packers, led by star quarterback Jordan Love. Going into the 4th quarter of that game, the 49ers were down 21 to 10 and needed a comeback victory to advance to the NFC championship. The 49ers stud quarterback Brock Purdy and the defense played lights out and pulled out a win 24 to 21 as they advanced to their third straight NFC championship.

The 49ers then played against the 3 seeded Detroit Lions who finished the regular season 12-5 and had their best season in over 30 years. At the end of the first half, the Lions were up big 24 to 7; as it seemed like the 49ers had no answers to slow down this up-and-coming team. To start the second half the 49ers adjusted their game plan and scored 27 points between the third and 4th quarter to win the game 34 to 31, leading them to their second Superbowl appearance in 5 years.

For those who don’t know this is a rematch of Super Bowl LIV. During the 2019 season, these two teams went head to head in their first Super Bowl matchup. That highly competitive game was one to remember as late in the 4th quarter the Chiefs were down by 10, QB Patrick Mahomes put the team on his back and brought the Chiefs their first Super Bowl victory in 50 years.

For the 49ers this game would be a redemption story as they intend to triumph over the Chiefs and win their 6th Super Bowl in their franchise history. As on the Chiefs side of the gridiron, this game would cement themselves as a dynasty, with their star aiming to win his 3rd Super Bowl in 6 years.

Students who live on campus and are interested in watching the Super Bowl, can go to Cougars Den at Miron Student Center at Cougars Den and join the Final Countdown watch party from 6:30-10 p.m. Resident Students can also check out the game at Cougar Hall's Great Room and be a part of Super Bowl Night from 6:30-11 p.m.

You can also check out our video where our cougars take on Super Bowl LVIII! https://www.youtube.com/shorts/r6M8RyJCxP8